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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI crime data, Roanoke City, VA has a Safety Score of 5/100 — higher crime than 95% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 4,676.0 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,817 of 2,957 US cities and #38 of 38 in Virginia.
Quiz: which of these is SAFER than Roanoke City, VA?
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Roanoke City, Virginia Safe?
Roanoke, Virginia, nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains, is known as the "Star City" for its illuminated mountain star. This independent city serves as a regional hub for southwest Virginia, with a diverse population of around 100,000 residents.
Roanoke City has a safety score of 5/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data, the city reported a total crime rate of 4,676.0 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,785.9 per 100,000.
Roanoke City ranks #38 out of 38 cities in Virginia and #2817 out of 2957 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 5th percentile for safety — with higher crime than 95% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Roanoke City is rape, at 86.6 per 100K — 2.0x the national average.
Year over year, Roanoke City's total crime rate increased by 4.1%, with violent crime rising 7.2%.
Roanoke City Crime Statistics Breakdown
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 602 | 620.5 | 478.2 |
| Murder | 11 | 11.3 | 6.3 |
| Rape | 84 | 86.6 | 43.8 |
| Robbery | 90 | 92.8 | 94.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 417 | 429.8 | 333.5 |
| Property Crime | 3,935 | 4,055.6 | 2,307.7 |
| Burglary | 376 | 387.5 | 292.0 |
| Larceny-Theft | 3,176 | 3,273.3 | 1,657.7 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 383 | 394.7 | 358.0 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Roanoke City vs Virginia Average
How does Roanoke City's crime rate compare to the Virginia state average?
| Metric | Roanoke City | Virginia Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 620.5 | 338.9 | +83.1% |
| Property Crime Rate | 4,055.6 | 2,386.6 | +69.9% |
| Murder Rate | 11.3 | 9.8 | +15.6% |
| Total Crime Rate | 4,676.0 | 2,725.5 | +71.6% |
Roanoke City Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Roanoke City, Virginia.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 97,027 | 4,676.0 | 620.5 | 4,055.6 |
| 2023 | 96,925 | 4,490.1 | 578.8 | 3,911.3 |
| 2022 | 98,204 | 4,907.1 | 605.9 | 4,301.3 |
| 2021 | 99,175 | 4,215.8 | 487.0 | 3,728.8 |
| 2020 | 99,335 | 4,299.6 | 454.0 | 3,845.6 |
| 2019 | 99,752 | 4,799.9 | 387.0 | 4,412.9 |
Roanoke City Crime Map — Surrounding Area
City-level crime rates from FBI data for Roanoke City and nearby cities — green is safer, red is higher-crime; circle size is population. Not an incident-level map. Full state view: Virginia crime map.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Roanoke City, Virginia safe?
Roanoke City has a safety score of 5/100, meaning it has less crime than about 5% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 4,676.0 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Roanoke City is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in Roanoke City, Virginia?
According to FBI data for 2024, Roanoke City has a violent crime rate of 620.5 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 4,055.6 per 100,000 residents.
How does Roanoke City compare to the national average?
Roanoke City's total crime rate of 4,676.0 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 97,027 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Roanoke City?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Roanoke City are larceny-theft (3,176 reported incidents) and aggravated assault (417 reported incidents). Property crime outnumbers violent crime 6.5x in the city.
Is Roanoke City safe to visit?
Like any city, Roanoke City has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 5/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.